New: Lead Special Educator - SALA (Summer Arts for Learning Academy)

Seasonal Employment at Arts for Learning • Baltimore, MD

3d

About The Position

The SALA Lead Special Educator is key to ensuring rigorous and meaningful learning in both literacy and math at SALA sites is possible for all students. Lead Special Educators will provide push in and pull out support and services to students with IEPs and 504 Plans and are responsible for both providing reasonable accommodations and carrying out IEP goals for specific students. In addition to serving specific students with IEPs, Lead Special Educators are expected to support all students with special needs regardless of IEP status and are required to provide coaching, support, and strategies to Teachers, Teaching Artists, Paraeducators, and One-to-Ones in meeting the needs of all students. Additionally, Lead Special Educators will manage the team of Gen. Ed. and ESOL Paraeducators, as well as one-to-ones at their site, to ensure that they are in the best position to meet the needs of all students.

Requirements

• A special education certification.
• Teachers with special education certifications are also encouraged to apply as general Classroom Teachers.
• Experience managing, supervising, and mentoring staff.
• Experience creating schedules and other logistical resources to ensure all students’ needs are met.
• A passion for students: an ability to build meaningful relationships and a desire to “go above and beyond” to ensure each student’s success.
• A strong interest (with experience preferred) in arts integration and co-teaching.
• A strong desire to fully integrate into a non-traditional learning environment where flexibility is strongly valued and where new and innovative ideas are not only cultivated but expected from all staff.
• Willingness to use either the school office landline or their personal cell phone (number blocking is acceptable) to contact parents as needed.
• Knowledge of federal laws protecting the educational services for students with disabilities.
• Ability to select instructional planning, management, and evaluation procedures that relate to student needs and the demands of the instructional environment, as dictated by their IEPs.
• Ability to apply knowledge of current research and theory to instructional programs.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with students, peers, and parents.
• An ability to attend and engage in all required training and program dates.
• An ability to create inclusive environments where all students’ unique gifts and talents are discovered and cultivated and where students’ identities (racial, cultural, social, gender, etc.) are acknowledged, affirmed, and reflected around them.
• An ability to examine biases and an understanding of the concepts of institutional and structural racism and its impact on policies and practices, especially related to the administration of public education.
• A commitment to seeing families as partners in education and communicating with them regularly.
• Please note, staff working in SALA will need to be able to stand, walk, and be active throughout the entire duration of the program day. They will need to be able to keep up with and supervise students within and outside the classroom, for example, during Fitness and Fun time and field trips. Staff will also need to be able to lift up to 20lbs on occasion when setting up and breaking down classroom and/or preparing for performances and other events. Bending, kneeling, and climbing stairs are also frequently needed during SALA.
• SALA Lead Special Educators must be able to commit to attending program and training days, including PD week shortly before program launch, and spring PD dates that will occur March-June.
• Specific dates and deadlines will be provided in a timely manner and all training is paid.
• SALA Program Dates: For all Baltimore sites, the program will run Monday through Thursday for a 5 week period of time.
• Program hours for students are 8:30 am (Breakfast) to 3:00 pm.
• Lead Special Educators time commitment: 7 hours a day (8.30am - 3.30pm)
• One 30-minute staff meeting per week (days/times TBD by Site Directors); one weekly check-in with the staff they support (day/time TBD by Lead SpEd); Planning time (vertical and co-planning): 2 hours a week (more information on this during Spring PD).
• These meetings are required and paid.

Responsibilities

• Check instructional resources (e.g. math manipulatives, books, dictionaries, etc) in the first two weeks--those that are not being used in a classroom should be taken to the office and repurposed.
• Ensure all Artists/Teachers submit written weekly instructional outlines for all classes.
• Ensure arts integration/co-teaching planning occurs and keep records of time spent.
• Support the Site Admin team in carrying out the site operations.
• Supports or participates in school-wide student activities and/or family and community events.
• Supports the structured team-building recess (Fitness & Fun) block twice per week.
• Submit verbal and written reports as required.
• Administer student program evaluations when needed.
• Create a positive culture and climate within the building by centering the program’s mission and core values and addressing any issues within the parameters of site procedures and expectations.
• Build relationships with students, staff, and families and create a positive, supportive community within the classroom and site.
• Support the completion of all required paperwork as assigned by the Site Director/Instructional Coach, including student attendance records, student pre and post surveys or assessments, student observation rubrics, student progress reports, etc.
• Adhere to all health and safety policies as required by BCPSS, CDC, World Health Organization (WHO), and Arts for Learning Maryland.
• Assist with site logistics (transitions, cafeteria duties, tidiness of site, among others)
• All other duties as assigned.
• Serve as the Special Education Lead at a site and provide push in and pull out support and services to students with IEPs and 504 plans.
• Provide direct instructional services to students with disabilities based on their Individualized Education Program (IEP) or other identified special needs.
• In partnership with instructional staff, develop, adapt, modify, and individualize educational materials, resources, techniques, methods, and strategies to meet the needs of students with different abilities within the SALA framework.
• Maintain appropriate records and document the prescriptive progress of special education children based on established instructional objectives.
• Ensure that said documents are sent to the SALA HQ Director by the end of the program.
• Work with parents of special education children to ensure ongoing communication and instructional support systems.
• Coordinate instructional activities and collaborate with other professional staff, both school and non-school-based, as required to maximize learning opportunities.
• Assign work to and oversee Gen. Ed. Paraeducators and One-to-Ones in the buildings.
• Work with the ESOL Director and the ESOL teacher on site to assign work to ESOL Paraeducators.
• Monitor student behavior in non-instructional areas as assigned or required and intervene to control and modify disruptive behavior, reporting to administrators as appropriate.
• Demonstrate the use of both traditional and innovative instructional methodologies in working with various sub-groups within the populations of students with disabilities.
• Lead Special Educators are responsible for creating a positive culture and climate within their classroom and are responsible for handling any issues (including disciplinary issues) within the parameters of site procedures.
• Build relationships with students, staff, and parents and create a positive, supportive community within the classroom and site.
• Attend all professional development and planning meetings as instructed by the SALA Admin Team and the Site Director.
• Engage parents, guardians, and families effectively, including responding to family inquiries in a timely manner, and contacting parents/guardians to provide progress updates, share challenges, or address disciplinary concerns.
• Assist with the preparation and planning of the final student culminating showcase.
• Collaborate with and provide support for various partnerships and external stakeholders.

Benefits

• This position is eligible for time-off in the form of Sick & Safe leave.
• Lead Special Educators will be paid an hourly rate of $50
• ALL positions will be paid at the hourly rate of $25.00 for all professional development sessions and training.
• Sick and Safe Leave is accrued at a rate of one hour for every thirty hours worked and begins accruing on day one of employment.
• Employees may use the leave in increments of 1 hour or greater.
• Employees will be paid at their current regular rate for each accrued Sick and Safe Leave hour used.

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed